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"Police were also conducting random swab testing, which is thought to be the first time the drug detection method has been used at an Adelaide event."

So is that what it's coming too?!!

Random drug tests to go into a concert???

Drug sniffing dogs were on the scene as well and apparently there were many drug arrests.

Freedom. Just another word.

UPDATE: 2/4 - From letter by Gove:

I can assure you, as both a concert goer & South Australian State Government employee & most importantly a Neil Young fan, that there was no random drug swabbing employed at the entry gates of the Adelaide Big Day Out, Neil Young’s only South Australian performance. Journalist (& I use the word loosely) Bec “Yonder Stands The Sinner” Gill has done this state a terrible injustice, not to mention the insult to music lovers.

Police were in attendance. Police were at the gates with a sniffer dog. “Persons of interest” were introduced to the dog. No swabbing of innocent bystanders ever occurred. Given the one dog that I saw & the 33,000 concert goers, you’d be really unlucky to get busted. Police reported that there was only about 20 drug related offences detected across the whole of the 12 hour event. It is my understanding there were no drug related arrests.

Please don’t think I’m a government apologist, I just wanted to provide you the facts. The Adelaide Today website is a Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation) publication. They also publish the only Adelaide daily newspaper. I like where I live & I would prefer that the rest of the world didn’t get the impression we were in a right wing fascist state.

I can assure you, this is not the case.

Neil Young will be performing tonight at Big Day Out 2009, Adelaide Showground, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

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9 Comments:

Just got back from the BDO in Adelaide. Awesome concert. Neil rocked right from the start.

Typically, he didn't really say much, though he made a few arm gestures to get people swaying. Fortunately there were no fake heart attacks, which was a bit of a surprise, 'cos while the front part were moving, cheering and yelling, the main part behind were fairly still. Perhaps, we were safe as everyone was on their feet anyway (no seats).

Cortez was blistering and it was probably the best Hurricane I've ever heard. While I've listened to a lot of live Neil recordings, they just don't match being there. ADITL was the encore and Neil shredded his guitar strings playing the final part by running his hands up and down the broken strings and whiping them onto the pick-ups.

The guy was there painting, but it was really hard to see as he was right at the back.

Can't recall the exact setlist, but he played these (in some order):EKTIN, Hurricane, Cortez, Hey Hey, Spirit Road, Old Man, Heart of Gold, Mother Earth, Love and Only Love (opening number), Cinnamon Girl, The Needle And The Damage Done, Rockin' In The Free World, A Day In The Life, Just Singing A Song, and I think Going Back.

Beingthe BDO, Neil played for his 90 minutes and that was it. Well, he played slightly less and then came back for ADITL to make it just over 90 minutes.

Tonight was the third time I've seen Neil live. He just gets better. I finally got to see him in Adelaide, and it was worth the wait. The man is a music god. Cortez was the highlight for me, as it was in Melbourne earlier this week. Agree with Colin - Hurricane was superb. Neil is all quality.

My 21 year old daughter was also there and loved it - another generation being swept off their feet by the legend.

Adrian, Laura, the Neate clan, Sean, Harvey, Blacks old scholars - thanks for being there to help make NY09 so memorable. Of course, biggest thanks goes to Neil and band.

Wow. This show was the greatest thing ive even seen. My bro and i got there around the tiem the artic monkeys started up and waltz right into the neil 'moshpit' abotu 2 metres from the barrier. The whole gig was a highlight. Cortez and hurricane were worth the flight money in themselves. Hurricane went for a good 11-12 minutes and featured some awesome gut busting feedback and the best guitar sololing from Neil that I have witnessed. outstanding

Wow. I couldn't post last night. It was too fresh and powerful still. And I went out with some friends after the show, as this was my last night in Adelaide. My flight to Melbourne is in a few hours, but I wanted to check in here.

Neil is still delivering the goods. I was blown away. I managed to get right up front, which ended up being about the same distance away as I was 5th row at last year's (first) Massey Hall show. After a long day in crazy heat, the crowd seemed to be a bit worse for wear, but Neil woke them up with Love and Only Love. Up front, we were singing along with every word. I will agree with Colin, Like a Hurricane was amazing. Easily the best I've heard, too. This is my 7th time seeing Neil, and he is not slowing down. Though I love Neil, Hurricane has never been my favourite. Last night I think I had a glimpse into that song in a new way, and was definitely moved by it. So powerful.

Cortez really was a killer. No doubt about it. The Needle was very emotional. Everybody Knows was a great sing along. The la la las were heartfelt in the group up front. Heart of Gold and Old Man were as good as you can ask for. Old Man was more powerful in Massey last year, but it was nice to see it with a band this time around.

All in all, Neil is still the king, and I feel so lucky to have seen him spread his magic once again.

I went to the Brisbane concert and had a great time. I have put a Review on my ArtSmelter artist collective Blog - check it out at http://australianartistcollective.blogspot.com/2009/01/show-case-review-neil-young.html

Wow, drug doggies at a Neil concert? Freedom for sure. Now how do you spell Adelaide, I want to make sure I never go there and tell my friends. California, now that's the place to go to see your favorite group. They have fun there and they enjoy music, peace, love and FREEDOM!

Two days after Neil at Adelaide BDO, plus Neil at Myer Music Bowl. I'm still floating on a cloud - I don't want to come back to earth.

I have this wonderful feeling every time I think about what I've just experienced - mystical, soulful, trance-like, passion, respect, regret (that I haven't seen more past Neil shows) - but mostly love (and only love) for Neil

It's been a few months short of 20 years since Neil Young played Adelaide. Again, he didn't disapoint. The set list was the same as the other Big Day Out sets. The crowd obviously loved every moment, with almost everyone joining in on songs like Old Man. Neil said very little, but his comments prior to Chrome Dreams II's "Spirit Road" - "This one's dedicated to the young alcoholics of Australia. Sorry the pot heads weren't allowed in today" struck a bit of a chord. Ironicly, there was the smell of cannabis in the air most of the night. The 90 minute session was over way too quickly. I hope it won't be another 20 years before he returns.On the subject of the drug dog (& I only saw the one), I was dissapointed to see that. I suspect that the police weren't targetting the Neil Young crowd. The Big Day out attracts a broad spectrum of people, not all of them the type any of us would really allign ourselves with. It's worth noting that they detected a fellow holding 16 ecstasy tablets. I doubt he was going to take them all himself.